Congress makes gains in urban local body polls in Karnataka

The opposition Congress in Karnataka has forged ahead in the March seven elections to urban local bodies in the state, for which counting was taken up today.

As per the latest figures in the 207 ULBs, including seven city corporations and 43 city municipal corporations, for which elections were held, the Congress bagged 1227 wards, followed by JDS at 603 and the ruling BJP at 583. Results in 3036 wards were declared so far, of the total nearly 5000.

The Karnataka Janatha Paksha of former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa bagged 197 wards, while BSR Congress of former BJP Minister B Sriramulu was victorious in 47. The two parties tested the political waters for the first time. Independents were winners in 351 wards.

The election was considered as a "semi-final" as Assembly poll is due in May. The outcome was seen as a pointer to the state polls and setting the tone for them.
In the last elections to ULBs in 2007, out of the total 5007 wards, the Congress had come first winning 1606, followed by JDS 1502 and the BJP 1180.